I'm new here and I need some help. I have been so good for the past two weeks staying on track but tonight I am meeting my family at Outback. It is one of my fav places to go but the things that I would typically order are TERRIBLE so I know I need to change. I am thinking about ordering the Grilled Chicken with steamed Vegi's and a salad with the Tangy Tomato dressing. Does this sound good,or does anyone have any suggestions?I am having trouble finding accurate nutrition info for a lot of the items.(I am following WW at home and counting Points)I appreciate any help...It is definetly going to be a challenge passing on the Cheese Fries and Bloomin Onion that I know will be ordered...

I would think that grilled chicken and steamed vegis sound like a good call...I would make sure the waitor knows that you would like the chicken/vegis prepared sans-butter and salt, because I do think they season some of the menu items in this way. And as you may know just the butter and salt used in prep can be a huge source of hidden sodium..calories.. You could use pepper instead or smuggle in your own little salt substitute or Mrs. Dash or whatever you like to season your food with.

Salad sounds okay but tangy tomato dressing sounds like it's loaded with sugar, salt and preservatives. I'd skip it and smuggle in my own [dressing] to be honest.

Outback is one my favorite restaraunts.. I haven't been back since I've started to decide on a diet but I'm curious as to what others have to say on this topic, because I know I will probably have the BF dragging me back LOL. I wish you good luck!

Marishortstuff-Thanks for the tips- your right about the butter and salt during prep,I didn't really think of that and I am sure it can be the source of a lot of "hidden" calories and fat,I have to remember that not everyone/everywhere would prepare Grilled chicken the same way I would at home.

Thanks for the goodluck too I definetly need it!

If it were me, I would just get the ribs and bloomin onion, eat just until I'm full, and then make up the points I went over during the rest of the week. Or just give myself a free day, bc I don't go to Outback that often and I love the ribs, and what's the point of going to Outback and are just going to eat steamed veggies?

On the other hand, if you go to Outback a lot and are really just going to meet your fam, then yeah, tell yourself you can get ribs and bloomin onion if you really want them but it's not like Outback is going out of business tomorrow so might as well get something healthier and feel good about staying OP, rather than eating something caloric you can get some other time.

I'm so with forest. Well, maybe not on the bloomin onion, but definately with the ribs.

I'm on WW too - and I think hungrygirl.com may have some stats on Outback. I just remember looking it up and realizing I might as well have the steak for the amount of points the chicken was. If you get one of the smaller oz steaks, its probably only between 6-8 points and you could have your steamed veggies, or a baked potato minus all of the butter, etc that they throw on it.

Here's some nutritional facts...

Grilled Chicken w/steamed Veggis
Cal: 350
Fat: 11g

Bloomin Onion (serving size = 1/4 of the onion w/sauce)
Cal: 580
Fat: 33g

Just a little info to help you decide. I hope this is helpful.

This thread is making me hungry! I can just imagine their sweet potato with brown sugar and butter! Good luck tonight. I would have to agree with Forest and Stellarosa, if you don't go there often you could opt for your favorite entre, only eat until you're full. Good luck tonight! and have fun!

the grilled chicken on the barbie is really yummy even w/o the butter. i got that and a plain sweet potatoe and was pleasantly surprised everything was delicious

Gosh! Who the heck can eat just 1/4 of a Bloomin' Onion? I'd certainly avoid that but the ribs sound good.

(Let's see - if I left now I could be there in an hour and 40 minutes. )

Wipes drool from keyboard.

I guess my question is gosh who eats that much of a blooming onion, there huge! When I was 220lbs and ate like a pig my family of four couldn't even finish the whole thing!

Also take into consideration this is from the guy who regulary goes to The Cheesecake Factory eat his whole meal and cheesecake at one sitting!

Ugh, this is making me want steak super bad. I haven't had a good, bloody steak in forever...I also had no idea up until recently that med-rare isn't how most people order their steak. Go figure. XD

I just wanted to say thanks for everyones help. I did end up getting the Grilled Chicken and Vegetables last night. I do think that having a free night is important, but I was afraid that since I just started back with everything that if I had a free night so soon I would go right back into bad habits. (it has happened so many other times) I just have it to look forward to in the future.... We do go out to dinner quite often, so I had to tell myself that I would have to wait until next time. They did get a Bloomin Onion for the table and I did take a couple pieces so I think that was a good splurge and I was proud of myself in the end for being able to pass everything up, even though it is one of my fav places Thanks again everybody!

Glad it went well and you figured out which strategy was going to work for you! Knowing that you'll be able to have something again in the future ("omg that isn't the last slice of cheesecake in existence!) is so key. Hope the chicken was tasty, too

Glad it went well!

My weakness at Outback is that bread...I can eat two loaves by myself!